Review…

Moving across spectrum in this direction, energy and frequency decrease while wavelength increases.

Distribution of UV Light across the Globe

Latitudes are shown on the left (latitude helps define a location on Earth, specifically how far north or south of the equator a site is).

Folate (Folic Acid) BackgroundBabies whose mothers did not have enough folate are at risk forserious birth defects, including spina bifida.

Folate (Folic Acid) BackgroundThe safest way to prevent this type of birth defect is to take a vitamin which contains 400-800 micrograms of folic acid. Dark green leafy vegetables and many (but not all) breakfast cereals, pastas and rice varieties also contain folic acid.

Folate and UV Radiation

One group (called “patients”) was exposed to UV-light, while “normals” were not so exposed.

Folate and UV Radiation (cont’d)Four samples of human plasma were tested for folate concentration before and after exposure to UV light.

Vitamin D and UV Radiation Dotted area = enough sunlight to meet all of a human’s requirement for vitamin D3 throughout all months of the year.

Note: Vitamin D3 is not produced to toxic levels when high quantities of sunlight are present.

Vitamin D and UV RadiationArea of narrowly-spaced obliques = there is not enough ultraviolet light to synthesize vitamin D3 in human skinfor at least 1 month of the year.

Vitamin D and UV RadiationArea of widely-spaced obliques = there is not enough UV light for the skin to synthesize vitamin D3 inany month of the year

Don’t Tan! (Whatever Color You Are…You’re Beautiful!)

Warning Signs…1. Open Sore2. Reddish Patch (looks irritated)3. Shiny Bump4. Pink Growth5. Scar-like Area

BCC = Most Common Type of Skin Cancer

Seriously…Don’t Tan! It’s Just Not Worth It!

• In the US, 35% of adults and 55% of college students have tanned, and the study found there are more than 419,000 new skin cancer cases attributable to indoor tanning each year.

• Worldwide, there are more skin cancer cases due to indoor tanning than there are lung cancer cases due to smoking.